Che-Fu

New Zealand Hip Hop entertainer, singer, songwriter, producer Che-Fu, a founding member of the legendary local band Supergroove. Che’s debut solo album ‘2b S.Pacific’ released in 1997. ‘Chains’ the first hip hop number one song in New Zealand singles charts reached Platinum sales and was the landmark single that brought New Zealand Hip Hop to mass attention.

In 2001, Che released the follow-up album ‘Navigator’. ‘Navigator’ debuted at number one, stayed there for 3 successive weeks and achieved 4 times Platinum. In 2009 Che was presented the New Zealand Order Of Merit by the NZ Governor General. Che had the most top 10 singles in N.Z and he won most awards attainable in N.Z Music, and a handful internationally.

Tigilau Ness

Tigilau Ness is a first generation New Zealand born Niuean.  His mother Mokahekafa Ness comes from the village of Mutalau and  his father Kuo Ness is from Alofi and Mutalau villages.

Tigilau was born at St Hellens hospital in Auckland Central, 18 May 1955.  He can read, write and speak fluently in the Niuean language. Niuean is his mother tongue.

Tigilau is a musician, a poet, a political activist, and a founding member of the Polynesian Panthers. In 2009, he was a recipient of the M.I.T Life Time Achievement award, for the S3 Pacific Music Awards.  Tigilau says he loves representing Niue.

Dzcyple LAST aka Demian Maiava

Dzcyple LAST aka Demian Maiava, born and raised in New Zealand and now residing in Sydney, Australia. Dzcyple LAST is in the making of completing his debut album called 'Refentse Within', which is South African for 'Victory'. Set to release this year with heavy weights featured on the album from Australia and New Zealand such as Koolism, Che-Fu, Juse, DJ Bonez & Folk Singers the Stiff Gins and more.

Moving to Australia almost 11 years ago Dzcyple LAST was originally the front man for his band All Relativf where he was able to put his talents to the test creating a Soul, Funk and Rock sound. Then moving onto extensive touring around Australia with one of Australias critically acclaimed Producers, Katalyst. This is where his skills and experience nourished and led him to branch out to create his own destiny!

Most recently Dzcyple LAST was support act for Hip Hop artists Dead Prez and Talib Kweli. The Niuean festival will definitely be his highlight!

Dianna Fuemana

newwayin THEATRE presents

BIRDS -a new theatrical work written and directed by Dianna Fuemana, starring Ali Foa’i.

World Premier Niue Arts Festival, 23 – 30th April 2011 Proudly supported by the Pacific Committee Creative New Zealand. 

Dianna Fuemana created BIRDS for world premier at the Niue Arts Festival, 22 – 29th April 2011.

BIRDS, an urban story told through the eyes of a young niue boy growing up in Auckland's Avondale Hood-Lands...

A master at story telling and performance, her work includes internationally acclaimed and award winning works Mapaki and The Packer. In 2010 Fuemana was the winner of the NZ International Festival of the Arts ‘Once Upon a Deadline’ competition and was nominated for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Theatre in Los Angeles, International’. Her repertoire of plays produced includes Jingle Bells, My Mother Dreaming and Falemalama.

 Craig Fasi

Pacific Island film pioneer. Craig Fasi born in New Zealand with a Niue Island cultural heritage, began his career in Moving Image fresh from a Visual Arts Degree in 1998 as part of the team at the Moving Image Centre, now known as “MIC Toi rere hiko”; Establishing a film program dedicated to Pacific Island Directors, Writers, Actors, Producers and multi-media artists from grass roots to established practitioners.

POLLYWOOD was born from the Pacific Island short film night and flourished with invitations to speak and screen at Aucklands’ Pasifika Festival, the Auckland University, the Auckland museum, the Wairoa Maori film festival, the Dreaming festival in Australia and Corbans Estate Art centre to name a few.

"I am empowered by seeing our Pacific Island people on screen. As a people, we have only scratched the surface of the potential stories yet to be told on film and via multi-media art,” says curator Craig Fasi.

As a film curator, Craig is excited to be a part of releasing the full potential of Pacific Island film to the world.

 Maree A. Webster

Maree A. Webster

Playwright, BA Performing and Screen Arts

Maree has written two plays; ULI VAO-written during her graduation year at Unitec. She went on to direct and produce the play for public performance in 2007 before touring it to Niue in 2008 which was extremely successful in terms of using the Niue language and songs.

Her second play, NIUE NUKUTUTAHA, a story based on the true account of the Niue soldiers involvement in WWI; was started in New Zealand with well known riter/director/producer/lecturer Gary Henderson and completed in Niue where it also had its first showing to the Niue public.

NIUE NUKUTUTAHA was also well received especially as there is no drama/performance arts centre in Niue.

Maree has also written a monologue, titled, I AM NIUE, for the arts festival. It will feature an original composition by Amanda Hausi, and accomplished actor, Michael Koloi (Pacific Beat Street).

PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY GROUPS

Vahega Fakaako Vagahau Niue -

South Auckland (VFVN)

The VFVN group is based in the South Auckland region.  Their focus is also on the revitalisation and retention of the Niue language.  Mele Nemaia has been teaching vagahau Niue in the community for many years.  She is looking foward to taking her students to the festival where they will be able to learn more about Niuean culture and all forms of Niue cultural expression.  Mele can be contacted on 09 276 4553 or 021 0262 8458.  

Tupumaiaga a Niue Trust

TNT is a voluntary, not-for-profit community group that started in January 2007.

Based in Central Auckland, TNT provides arts, culture and heritage workshops for Niue Youth during the school holidays on Niue dance, drama, music , Niuean hip hop, and song. Also, Niue woodcraft with katoua spear making, lava lava printing and weaving. 

TNT has also been tutored and associated with some of the most talented Niue people in the community from Tigilau Ness, Masini Tukuniu, Matafetu Smith and Malcolm Lakatani and all the many tutors who run workshops.

"We are currently looking forward to going to the Niue Arts Festival in April 2011 and hope to meet some of you fabulous Niueans while we are on the rock! We will join in the arts festival, then hope to do some printing workshops."

 Fakaue lahi mahaki